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Lee and Nam: Comparison of Food and Nutrient Consumption Status between Displaced North Korean Children in South Korea and South Korean Children
Original Article
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition

Korean Journal of Community Nutrition 2012; 17(4): 407-418.

Published online: 31 August 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2012.17.4.407

Comparison of Food and Nutrient Consumption Status between Displaced North Korean Children in South Korea and South Korean Children

Soo-Kyung Lee, So-Young Nam

Department of Food and Nutrition, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.

Corresponding author: Soo-Kyung Lee, Department of Food and Nutrition, Inha University, 100 Inharo, Namgu, Incheon 402-751, Korea. Tel: (032) 860-8121, Fax: (032) 862-8120, skleenutrition@inha.ac.kr

Received 22 June 2012       Revised 1 August 2012       Accepted 9 August 2012

Copyright © 2012 The Korean Society of Community Nutrition

Abstract

Many displaced North Koreans (NK) are living in South Korea (SK); however nutrition research with the displaced NK is limited. This study examined food and nutrient consumption status of displaced NK children (6-18 year-old) currently living in SK. A total of 154 children were recruited, and a pre-tested dietary behavior questionnaire, food frequency questionnaire, 24-hr recall method were used. Sex- and age-matched SK children (n = 462) randomly selected from 2009-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used as the comparison group. This study found that more NK children skipped breakfast (37%) and dinner (11%), and ate breakfast (38.8%) and dinner (18.2%) without family members than SK children. Many NK children reported that they rarely ate bread, rice cake, hamburger, pizza, fried food, candy. NK children consumed significantly less energy and nutrients (except calcium) and obtained more energy from fat and protein than SK children. Overall index of nutrient quality in NK children, however, was generally good. Length of stay in SK and breakfast skipping rates were significantly associated with lower diet quality. Therefore, nutrition education with displaced NK children should target those who recently came to SK. How to incorporate "new" foods, generally high in energy, sugar, or fat, in healthy ways and importance of breakfast should be emphasized. The growth patterns of the displaced NK children who were born and raised in food-deprived environments and will grow in food-affluent environments of SK should be monitored for health promotion of the NK children and for nutrition policy of the future united Korea.

Keywords: Displaced North Korean children, South Korea, food, nutrition, migration

Figures and Tables

Table 1
General characteristics of displaced North Korean (NK) children and South Korean(SK) children
kjcn-17-407-i001

1) NK: North Korean, SK: South Korean

2) 2009-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (6-18 years)

3) Student's t-test, χ2-test or Fisher's exact test

4) Mean ± SD

5) N (%)

6) Parent's information not available in 2010 KNHANES

***: P < 0.001

Table 2
Eating behaviors of displaced North Korean (NK) children and South Korean (SK) children
kjcn-17-407-i002

1) NK: North Korean, SK: South Korean

2) 2009-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (6-18 years)

3) χ2-test

4) Skipping meal: Meal skipping rates were calculated from two-day data, therefore, only average percentages are presented in the table.

5) %

6) N (%)

*: P < 0.05, **: P < 0.01, ***: P < 0.001

Table 3
Food consumption frequency of displaced North Korean (NK) children and South Korean (SK) children
kjcn-17-407-i003

1) NK: North Korean, SK: South Korean

2) 2009-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (12-18 years)

3) N (%)

4) Information not available in KNHANES

***: P < 0.001, by χ2-test or Fisher's exact test

Table 4
Average intake of energy and nutrients of displaced North Korean (NK) children and South Korean (SK) children
kjcn-17-407-i004

1) NK: North Korean, SK: South Korean

2) 2009-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (6-18 years)

3) Studentís t-test

4) EER = Estimated Energy Requirement

5) Mean ± SD

6) Information not available in KNHANES

**: P < 0.01, ***: P < 0.001

Table 5
Index of Nutrient Quality1) (INQ) of displaced North Korean (NK) children and South Korean (SK) children
kjcn-17-407-i005

1) INQ: nutrient intake amount per 1000 kcal/RI per 1000 kcal

2) NK: North Korean, SK: South Korean

3) 2009-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (6-18 years)

4) Studentís t-test

5) Mean ± SD

6) Information not available in KNHANES

*: P < 0.05, **: P < 0.01, ***: P < 0.001

Table 6
Energy and nutrient intake status of displaced North Korean (NK) children and South Korean (SK) children
kjcn-17-407-i006

1) NK: North Korean, SK: South Korean

2) 2009-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (6-18 years)

3) χ2-test

4) EER = Estimated Energy Requirements

5) EAR = Estimates Average Requirements

6) RI = Recommended Intake

7) N (%)

8) Information not available in KNHANES

**: P < 0.01, ***: P < 0.001

Table 7
General characteristics by intake level in displaced North Korean (NK) children
kjcn-17-407-i007

1) Inadequate intake group: children with more than seven energy and nutrients consuming less than 75% EER and EAR

2) Meal skipping rate: Meal skipping rates were calculated from two-day data, therefore, only average percentages are presented in the table.

3) Mean ± SD

4) N (%)

5) %

*: P < 0.05, ***: P < 0.001, Significantly differ by χ2-test or Fisher's exact test

Notes

This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MEST).

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